STAFF REPORT

November 17, 1999

To: Budget Advisory Committee and Community Services Committee

From: Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

Alan F. Speed, Fire Chief, Toronto Fire Services

Subject: Staff response to Budget Task Force Groups recommendation that the

Fire Services pursue avenues to reduce false alarms.

Purpose:

To respond to the request of the Budget Task Force Group that Fire Services pursue avenues to reduce false alarms and report back to the Works and Emergency Services Committee and the Budget Committee.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There is no financial impact association with this report. The program as designed in Toronto, is producing approximately $1.6 million in revenue generation for the city for 1999, and future year impacts will see a reduced amount of revenue generation in this area as the program further addresses the need to reduce false alarms.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that the Toronto Fire Services continue in the program currently being used to reduce false alarms in the City of Toronto.

Background:

The 1999 Operating Budget Review Task Force Group requesting that the Toronto Fire Services provide "extensive research into the solutions implemented by other municipalities, in particular the cities of Mississauga and Ottawa", in the pursuit of avenues to reduce false alarms in the City of Toronto.

Comments:

Contact was made with fire departments as to programs put in place to address false alarms in their communities. Many of the programs in place identified with a revenue generation view point as opposed to a program to reduce false alarms overall. Particular attention was paid to the municipalities of Mississauga and Ottawa as directed by the recommendations made by the Task Force Group.

The Municipality of Mississauga has a by-law #252-96 which recognizes the need to address the false alarms in that community. The by-law states the number of vehicles normally attached to a response to an alarm usually being four vehicles and language that defines false alarms as being when it is determined "that the alarm is a false alarm occurring as a result of the property owner having failed to maintain the fire alarm system or emergency system as prescribed by the Fire Code being Regulation 454 R.R.O. 1990, as amended, the property owner shall be charged a fee as stipulated in Schedule A attached to this by-law."

Lack of notification is also addressed in the by-law as "If a property owner fails to notify the Fire and Emergency Services Communications Centre in advance of any work being conducted on a fire alarm system or emergency system at a property, and as a result of the work being done on a fire alarm system or emergency system a false alarm is triggered, the property owner shall be charged a fee as stipulated in Schedule A attached to this by-law if Fire and Emergency Services respond to the false alarm." And;

When the "Fire and Emergency Services determines that the alarm is a false alarm occurring as a result of a malicious act, the property owner shall be charged a fee as stipulated in Schedule A attached to this by-law."

MISSISSAUGA FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES:

Shown below is a table reflecting the impact of the by-law that was implemented in Mississauga in 1996.

It is not known why the false alarm numbers have increased even after implementing the false alarm by-law. It is hoped by Mississauga staff that amendments to their by-law (possibly following the direction the City of Toronto has embarked on) will assist them in reducing the number of false and malicious alarms.

Schedule A

1. For responding to false alarms occurring as a result of a failure to maintain a fire alarm system or emergency system:

(a) first false alarm in any calendar year - Nil

(b) each subsequent false alarm in any calendar year

or consecutive twelve month period - $600.

3. For responding to false alarms occuring as a result of work being performed on a alarm system or emergency system:

(a) each false alarm - $600.00

4. For responding to false alarms occurring as a result of a malicious act:

(a) first false alarm in any consecutive three month period - Nil

(b) each subsequent false alarm in any consecutive three month period- $600.00

OTTAWA FIRE DEPARTMENT:

The Ottawa Fire Department keeps a log of all false alarm responses through a form that is filled out by the on-scene officer and sent to their Administration office. This form is completed for every response to a structure that is equipped with a fire alarm system. The data collected is instumental in tracking the history of repetitive offenders that are responsible for system malfunctions, and companies performing testing/maintenance services that do not give prior notification to monitor company and/or Ottawa Fire Department Communications.

When a number of false alarms have been identified at a particular address (number not identified) the Ottawa Fire Department will send representation to that address to speak with the building owner as to the false alarm problem and offer recommendations as to how to rectify the occurrances.

In discussing this program with the Ottawa Fire Department it appears that it is an older program and is not adhered to on a full time basis.

The program in Ottawa has no by-law or fees attached.

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES:

The program in Toronto as detailed in a copy of the attached By-law # 133-1998, draws upon the history and success of the former City of North York By-law #32771. A table showing the difference in the false alarm occurrence in North York indicates the approach taken has substantial merit.

It is of great interest that a continual increase in false alarms was observed from 1991 to 1995 before the By-law #32771 was implemented however, since the by-law was put in place, the decline over the past three years was at its lowest count in over eight years. The by-law came into effect February 1996, after a very marked increase in false alarms was encountered in 1995.

NEW TORONTO INITIATIVE

In addition the Toronto Fire Services, in cooperation with Metropolitan Toronto Housing Authority and the Ontario Fire Marshals Office have coordinated a pilot project to address the false alarm problem. In this project all fire alarm pull stations have been removed from the building with the exception of one in the main entrance, which is monitored by a security camera, and a second pull station within the superintendants suite. Additional provisions have been included in the fire protection equipment within the building for the safety of the tenants.

This project has proven to be so successful in the reduction of false alarms in this building that arrangements with the same parties are being made to cunduct a second pilot project in another problem building.

It is anticipated that the information gathered from these pilot projects will be very useful in the application to influence change in legislation to the Building Code regarding the installation and use of pull stations in buildings as we know it today.

Conclusions:

While these programs both have a different approach to address the false fire alarm program in their respective municipalities, neither appears to attack the false alarm problem in the most positive way to both the public and the fire service.

Toronto Fire Services has a by-law in place for the City of Toronto (By-law #133-1998) which is attached to this report. The by-law is based on a by-law used in the former City of North York (By-law # 32771) and its history is the basis on which these conclussions are formulated.

The Toronto by-law has a fee attached for false alarms, malicious alarms and malfunctioning equipment (which is included in the definition of false alarms). The fee is scheduled at $300.00 per vehicle responding to a false alarm with the assumption the lowest common denominator for any response to alarms is three vehicles, being dispatched for a total of $900.00 per false alarm.

The Toronto by-law does take the initiative of reducing false alarms by utilizing a number of inclusions which consists of:

(a) if a building owner has since the false alarms occurred installed in the building a proper security system or taken measures to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of a false alarm at the building in the future, the owner may apply to the City to be reimbursed by way of an application for reimbursement that shall include proof of the installation of a proper security system or of the other measures taken to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of a false alarm at the building in the future, or both, and;

(b) where the Fire Chief, in his sole judgement, is satisfied that the owner has installed a proper security system or taken such other measures that the Fire Chief considers sufficient to reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of a false alarm at the owner's building in the future, the City , on the recommendation of the Fire Chief, may reimburse the owner up to a maximum of ninety (90%) of the fee paid by the owner for the false alarm at the building in respect of which the services of the Fire Department were provided.

(c) an amendment was adopted by City Council attaching a prescribed amount of time for building owners to address their false alarm problem and be eligible for the reimbursement. This time period was established at twelve months. This time limitation was implemented to encourage building owners to act in a timely manner to correct their false alarm problem.

(d) fire prevention staff are equipped with ideas, suggestions and are available to assist building owners in their quest to reduce the occurrence of false alarms in their buildings and to assist the building owners in ensuring tenants realize the value of an alarm system when it is operated in manner it was intended.

Continuation of the Toronto program as stated in the By-law #133-1998, shows a positive approach to addressing the false alarm problem in Toronto. If the program is as successful as is anticipated, the tenants of any building having an alarm system will, in the future, be able to rely on the emergency intent, for which these systems were designed, for their safety.

Therefore, staff of the Fire Services believe that the Bylaw is having a positive effect on reducing both malicious and nuisance false alarms, and accordingly, no changes to it are recommended or warranted at this time.

Contact Names:

Alan F. Speed

Fire Chief

397-4300

Terence E. P. Boyko

Deputy Fire Chief

397-4302

Alan F. Speed

Fire Chief

Fire Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

tb

List of Attachments:

City of Toronto By-law No. 133-1998 Fees and Charges for Services Provided by Toronto Fire Services.

City of Toronto By-law No. 559-1998 To amend City of Toronto By-law No. 133-1998.